A time for goodwill and generosity

Embracing holiday happiness

Image: Colourbox
This year, Editor-in-chief Lori Ann Reinhall is wishing upon a star that all her readers will have a happy holiday season filled with goodwill and generosity.

Dear readers and friends,

As I write to you today, the notion of holiday happiness may seem trivial in light of what is happening in the world. While we see far fewer blue and yellow symbolic displays of solidarity these days, the bloody war in Ukraine drags on and another horrific war is unfolding in the Middle East. There is conflict and need all over the globe. It is no exaggeration to say that there has never been a greater need for goodwill on Earth.

Nonetheless, this is all the more reason for us to cherish time-honored traditions that bring us light and life in dark times. Christmas is such a special time of the year, a time for us to embrace and reinforce the values we hold dear. We cannot forget the Christmas message of faith, hope, and charity—the love that binds us together in our humanity.

There is always a sense of anticipation with the holidays. Part of the fun and joy of the Christmas season is all the preparations. In former times, this started early with the coming of the First Advent. With our busy lives these days, we tend to start getting ready even earlier. For many, the season officially starts the day after Thanksgiving with the big Black Friday sales (even in Norway) and goes non-stop until Christmas Eve­ and into the New Year.

The gift of giving

With this November issue, we want to offer you some inspiration for your holiday preparations. Our holiday Gift Guide Auction, which will run between Nov. 10 and Nov. 20, is full of ideas. You can explore what we have to offer and then bid virtually. We have worked with many of our valued advertisers to bring you a special Nordic selection of gifts, including a trip with Viking Cruises. You may want to treat yourself, or better yet, give something to someone special to you. Best of all, 100% of the profits support The Norwegian American. 

And, of course, please remember that a gift subscription to our newspaper is wonderful gift that can be enjoyed all year round.

Giving a gift has so many benefits, to both giver and receiver. It’s a way that we express our appreciation and gratitude for others. A carefully chosen gift, no matter what the price tag, can bring so much joy to another’s  life. It also serves as an expression of our own self-identity and values. This can be especially meaningful if you know someone else is somehow in need.

We hope that you will also remember our beloved newspaper this Christmas by placing a holiday greeting. These greetings are an important source of revenue this time of year, and with your greeting, you share your generosity to the entire readership of our paper. I always say that one subscription goes a long way: it supports an entire community, and our holiday greetings are a further affirmation of this. Thank you for your support.

Cookies, cookies, and more!

And then, what would the holiday season be without good food? With the help of our fabulous food editor, Kristi Bissell of True North Kitchen, and our partners at MatPrat, we have gotten started early with some new recipes that we know you will enjoy. Some of them actually have their origins on this side of the Atlantic and have made their way back to us from Norway with new Nordic flavors—and, yes, they are delicious!

Best of all, these recipes are easy to make and can save you time. As an editor, I am always very busy this time of the year, but I learned that I could make seven types of cookies without too much trouble—and I can tell you that they turned out great. Many thanks to our best Scandinavian baker Julie Pheasant-Albright for her assistance there.

As you will discover, there is so much in this issue that it is impossible to highlight it all. There is exciting news from Norway with the Nobel Prizes, an op-ed from Ambassador Marc Nathanson, and our usual special features—as I always say, this paper has something for everyone.

At that, I wish you many hours of happy reading and  a very happy holiday season!

This article originally appeared in the November 2023 issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.